Portable fire escape



May 20, 19524. 11494467 \N. K. EDWARDS PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE Filed Aug. 21, 1922 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED. STATES WILLIAM R. EDWARDS,

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Application filed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,108.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, WILLIAM K. EDWARDS, citizen of the lnited States of America, residing at Big Spring, in the county of Howard and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire Escapes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has reference to fire es- 0 capes, and more especiallyto portable fire escapes of the type that are capable of transportation in a suitcase, trunk, hand satchel, or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved fire escape, of the character shown, described and claimed in my co-pending application for patent filed July 26, 1922, Serial No. 577,608. This device comprises a casing, a reel therein upon which a suitable cable is wound, and a brake for controlling the rotation of the reel as the cable unwinds, said brake being operated by a lever which extends inconvenient position for manipulation.

Under the present invention, a highly important feature is found in an arrangement of gearing in connection with an improved form of controlling brake, the drum of said brake being carried by a gear of small size relatively to that of a gear on the cable winding reel and with which the firstmentioned gear is in mesh. The lever which operates the band of the brake has a projection or lug which when the brake is released is in position to be inserted between two of the teeth carried by the cable winding reel whereby such reel is locked against movement.

The foregoing, and other important features of the invention will be best understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be pointed out in the, appended claim. I

Fig. 1 represents the device in front elevation with parts of the casing broken away to disclose the interior mechanism, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 1.

The casing is composed of the front and back walls, 2, a, and the intermediate side portion 5, and the walls 2 and 4 are provided with openings forming bearings for the shaft 6. Loops 7, 7 and 8 are secured to the casing and may receive a suitable fastening strap which is to encircle the body of the user so as to secure the fire escape in position. The shaft 6 carries a reel or drum upon which is wound the cable 9. Said reel comprises a body portion or drum, a discshaped wall 10, and a toothed gear wheel 12, which constitutes the other side or wall of the reel. A shaft 14 has bearings in oppositely located openings through. the

I walls 2, 4, of the casing below the reel, and, secured to said shaft is a smaller gear 16' which mesheswith the gear 12. Attached to the ear 16 is a brake drum 18'which is engaged by a brake strap 20, having one end secured to a shaft 21 passing through the opposite walls of the casing, while the other, or free end of the band is secured to the inner extremity of the operating lever 22. The lever 22 is fulcrumed to a shaft 24, extending through the casing, and said lever is provided on the opposite side of the fulcrum from that to which the brake band is connected with an offset lug or projection 26, which is so located as to be capable of introduction between two adjacent teeth of the gear 12. The cable 9, after being wound upon the drum, has its free end carried be tween two anti-friction rollers 30, which are located upon opposite sides of the exit opening 31 for the cable at the top of the casing. The end of the cable may be provided with a suitable snap hook 32, for attachment to a hook or other fixed projection in the building.

With the parts as above described, the device when used is secured to the body of the person by the straps which pass through the loops 7 and 8, and in such position that the operating lever 22 is conveniently located for manipulation by the hand of the user, and the hook 32 is positioned over a suitable nail, hook, or other rigid support on the window sill, or other fixed part of the room. Before using the fire escape, the lever 22 will be raised so that the lug 26 will engage between two adjacent teeth of the gear 12, thereby locking said gear against rotation and preventing the reel from unwinding. WVhen the user frees himself from the window of the building and is suspended by the cable from the fixed support to which the hook 32 is in engagement, he first pushes the lever downward sufficiently to disengage the lug from the teeth of the gear 12. This frees the reel, permitting it to unwind and the person will descend from the window of the building, at

the same time moyingthe lever22; down with just sufficient force to cause the brakeband 20 to frictionally engage the drum 18,1nterposing sufficient resistance to the rotation of said druin, throughthe operative connection of the gear 16 with the gear 12, toregulate the speed of descent to that which is within the limits of safety.

It will thus be seen that the-operator may, by the lever22, and after unlockingthe reel, apply the brake in such manner as to. easlly and with safety control, the unwinding of theljreel and his downward movementso that all danger of accident from too rapid descent fro n a burning, building will be avoided.

The device lnaymede be of such size and proportion as to be carried in a relatively small package or bundle, and will-easily fit within. a suitcase. or trunk and occupy but little space therein.

v n e d scr bed. my nvent o wh t. I

l im'is;

A portable fire escape comprising in combination a casing, a reel rotatably supported therein and carrying a cable, a gear operatively connected with said reel, a second gear in mesh therewith, a brake drum connected with said second gear, a brake strap engaging said drum, and a lever fulcruined in the casing, said lever having connection at one side of its fulcrum with said strap,

and at the other side of its fulcrum provided with means. to engage the first-mentioned gear for locking the reel against rotation, the parts being so arranged that the reel: is

locked when the brake is released, and is unlocked when the brake is applied to saiddrum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of August, A. D. 1922. a

WILLIAM E. EDWARDS.

' Witness:

Ml ml-e O ns- 

